Motion in Two Dimensions

1. A cricketer can throw a ball to a maximum horizontal

distance of 100 m. With the same effort, he throws the ball
vertically upwards. The maximum height attained by the ball is
(A) 100 m (B) 80 m
(C) 60 m (D) 50 m
Answer: (D)
u2
Rmax
= = 100m
g
(when θ= 45° )

∴u2 = 100 × 10= 1000

u2 1000
Hmax =
= = 50metre.
2g 2 × 10
(when θ= 90° )

2. If time of flight of a projectile is 10 seconds. Range is 500

m. The maximum height attained by it will be
(A) 125 m (B) 50 m (C) 100 m (D) 150 m
Answer: (A)
2u sin θ u2 sin2 θ (50)2
=T = 10 sec
g
⇒ u sin θ =50 so H= = = 125 m
2g 2 × 10
.

3. The maximum horizontal range of a projectile is 400 m.

The maximum height attained by it will be
(A) 100 m (B) 200 m (C) 400 m (D) 800 m

1
Answer: (A)
Rmax = 400m [when θ= 45° ]
So from the Relation
= R ⇒
4Hcot θ =
400 4Hcot 45° ⇒ H = 100m.

4. One fielder throws a ball and in 4secs it reaches to another

player. So, the maximum height reached by the ball above the
point of projection would be about

(A) 10m (B) 7.5m (C) 5m (D) 20m

Answer: (D)
2u sin θ
= 4sec
g
⇒ u sin θ = 20
u 2 sin 2 θ 400
∴H
= = ⇒ 20m
2g 2 ×10

5. Two bodies are projected with the same velocity. If one is

projected at an angle of 30o and the other at an angle of 60o to
the horizontal, the ratio of the maximum heights reached is
(A) 3 : 1 (B) 1 : 3 (C) 1 : 2 (D) 2 : 1
Answer: (B)
H1 sin2 θ1 sin2 30o 1
= = =
H2 sin2 θ2 sin2 60o 3

6. A projectile is projected with a kinetic energy K. Its range

is R. It will have the minimum kinetic energy, after
covering a horizontal distance equal to
2
 (A) 0.25 R (B) 0.5 R (C) 0.75 R (D) R
Answer: (B)
Projectile possess minimum kinetic energy at the highest
point of the trajectory i.e. at a horizontal distance R / 2.

7. Two balls are projected from top of a tower of height 120

m, one with initial upward velocity of 36 km/h and other with
initial downward velocity of 36 km/h. The speed of each ball
just before hitting the ground is(Take g = 10 m/s2)
(A) 50 m/s, 70 m/s (B) 50 m/s, 50 m/s
(C) 70 m/s, 50 m/s (D) 50 m/s, 5 2 m / s
Answer: (B)
Both will reach on the ground with same speed
V = u2 + 2gh = 100 + 2400 = 50m / s

8. A ball thrown by one player reaches the other in 2 sec. The

maximum height attained by the ball above the point of
projection will be about
(A) 10 m (B) 7.5 m (C) 5 m (D) 2.5 m
Answer: (C)
=
2u sin θ
T = 2 sec
g
(given) ∴u sin θ =10

Now =H
u2 sin2 θ (10)2
= = 5 m.
2g 2 × 10

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9. A projectile is fired at 30o with momentum p. Neglecting
friction, the change in kinetic energy when it returns to the
ground will be
(A) Zero (B) 30% (C) 60% (D) 100%
Answer: (A)
According to law of conservation of energy, projectile
acquire same kinetic energy when it comes at same level.

10. A particle is moving along a circular path of radius 2 m and

with uniform speed of 5 ms–1. What will be the change in
velocity when the particle completes half of the revolution
(A) Zero (B) 10 ms–1 (C) 10 2 ms−1 (D) 10 / 2 ms−1

Answer: (B)

θ  180o  o
∆v =2v sin   = 2 × 5 sin   = 2 × 5 sin 90 = 10 m / s
2  2 

11. The position vector of a particle is given as r = (t − 4t + 6) + (t )jˆ .

2 2

Find the time after which the velocity vector and

acceleration vector becomes perpendicular to each other.
(A) t = 1 sec (B) t = 2 sec

4
 (C) t = 3 sec (D) t = 4 sec
Answer: (A)

r = (t 2 − 4t + 6)iˆ + (t 2 )jˆ

 dr
v= = (2t − 4)iˆ + (2t)jˆ
dt

 dv
a = (2iˆ + 2ˆj)
=
dt
m/s2

v and 
a becomes perpendicular
 
⇒ v.a = 0

⇒ [(2t − 4)iˆ + (2t)j].[2i

ˆ ˆ + 2ˆj] =
0

⇒ 2(2t – 4) + 2(2t)=0
⇒ t=1

12. A body is projected with kinetic energy K at an angle of

60º with the horizontal. Its kinetic energy at the highest
point of its trajectory will be
(A) 2 K (B) K
(C) K/2 (D) K/4

Answer: (D)

5
 1
(K.E.)
= ini = mu2 K
2

2
1 u
(K.E.)Highest point = m
2  2 

= mu2
8
= K4

13. Two guns on a battleship

simultaneously fires two shells with
same speed at enemy ships. If the Battleship A B
shells follow the parabolic trajectories
as shown, which ship will get hit first?
(A) A (B) B
(C) both at same time (D) need more information
Answer: (B)
u2 sin2 θB u2 sin2 θA
(Hmax )B < (Hmax )A ⇒
2g
<
2g
(u is same)

⇒ u sin θB < u sin θA

2usin θB 2usin θA
⇒ <
g g

⇒ TB < TA

14. Velocity of a stone projected, 2 second before it reaches the

maximum height, makes angle 53° with the horizontal then
the velocity at highest point will be
(A) 20 m/s (B) 15 m/s

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 (C) 25 m/s (D) 80/3 m/s
Answer: (B)

Two second before maximum height vy = g × 2 = 20 m/s

tan 53° = 20
v
vx = 15 m/s
x

At maximum height v = vx = 15 m/s.

15. A cricketer throws a ball up to a horizontal distance of 150

meters. If he throws the ball vertically upwards with the same
effort. Then, what will the maximum height projected by the
ball?
(A) 100m (B) 75m
(C) 50m (D) 150m

Answer: (B)
u2
Maximum range= = 150m
g
u 2 150
Maximum range
= = =m 75m
2g 2

16. A stone projected at angle 53° attains maximum height 25

m during its motion in air. Then its distance from the point of
projection where it will fall is -
(A) 75 m (B) 400
3
m (C) 50 m (D) 60 m
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Answer: (A)

u2 sin2 53o
=Hmax = 25m
2g

⇒ u=
25 5
2
m/sec
2
sin53o cos53o
∴ R = 2u g
= 75 m

17. Three stones A, B and C are projected with same speed. A

is thrown upwards B is thrown horizontally & C is thrown
downwards from a building. When the distance between
stone A & C becomes 10 m, then distance between A and B
will be –
(A) 10 m (B) 5 m
(C) 5 2 (D) 10 2

Answer: (C)
Acceleration of all 3 stones is same i.e. it is equal to g
downwards. Relative acceleration between any two stones
is zero.

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 
ˆ + 1 ( −gj)t
S A = (uj)t ˆ 2
2


SC =− ˆ + 1 ( −gj)t
( uj)t ˆ 2
2

 1
SB= (u ˆi)t + ( −gj)t
ˆ 2
2
 
ˆ 10
S A − SC= (2ut)j=

5
⇒ t=
u
 
∴S A − SB at t=
5
u
sec
 
S A − SB =(ujˆ − u ˆi)t = ˆ ×5 =
( −u ˆi + uj) −5iˆ + 5ˆj
u

∴ Distance between A & B = 5 2 m

18. An astraunaut in a strange planet observer that he can jump

a maximum horizontal distance of 2m, if his initial speed is
6 m/s. What is the acceleration due to gravity of the planet?
(A) 3 m/s2 (B) 9 m/s2 (C) 18 m/s2 (D) 36 m/s2
Answer: (C)

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 Rmax for a given initial speed is obtained for angle of
projection = 45o.
u2 sin 2θ
Rmax =
g
at θ =45o

2
= ug ⇒
62
gplanet
=2 ⇒ gplanet = 18 m/s2

Q
19. If vr = velocity of river w.r.t. the
Width
ground, vbr of river
θ
v br = velocity of boat in still water P vr

and vb = velocity of boat w.r.t. the

ground
then v=
b vbr + vr

A boat starts from P with velocity vb and wants to reach point Q

right opposite to P as shown in figure. The boat may reach Q if
(A) vr > vbr (B) vr = vbr
(C) vr ≤ vbr (D) vr < vbr
Answer: (D)
  
V
= b V br + V r

= (Vbr cos θ ˆi + Vbr sin θˆj) + Vr ˆi

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 = (Vr + Vbr cos θ)iˆ + (Vbr sin θ)jˆ

For boat to reach at Q, x – component of its velocity must

be zero
⇒ Vb + Vbr cos θ =0

− Vr
∴V br =
cos θ

⇒ Vbr > Vr ( θ is obtuse)

20. A passenger is walking on a walkalator (horizontal

escalator) at a speed of 6 km/hr relative to escalator. He
starts from point P on the ground and reaches point Q on
ground. The walkalator is moving at 3 km/hr relative to
ground in the direction of point Q. The distance PQ is 120
m. The time taken by him to reach point Q is :
(A) 16 s (B) 48 s (C) 32 s (D) 72 s
Answer: (B)
Speed of passenger w.r.t. ground = (speed of passenger
w.r.t walkalator) + (speed of walkalator)
= 6 + 3 = 9 km/hr = 2.5 m/sec
∴ Time taken to cover 120 m = 120
2.5
= 48 sec

21. Can an object maintain uniform velocity when its

acceleration is not zero?
11
 (A) no, impossible
(B) yes, but only if the acceleration is in the direction of the
velocity
(C) yes, but only if the acceleration is opposite to the
direction of the velocity
(D) yes, if the acceleration is perpendicular to the velocity.
Answer: (A)
No, impossible. If there is acceleration then there will be
change in velocity.
22. A particle is projected with velocity (3iˆ + 4ˆj) m/s from
horizontal. What will be the height attained by it when
velocity becomes perpendicular to acceleration?
(A) 0.8 m (B) 5 m (C) 0.4 m (D) 1.6 m
Answer: (A)

Velocity will become perpendicular to acceleration at Hmax

u2y 42
∴ Hmax
= =
2g 20
= 0.8 m

23. A projectile is thrown with velocity v at an angle θ with

horizontal. When the projectile is at a height equal to half of the
maximum height, the vertical component of the velocity of
projectile is

12
 (A) v sinθ (B) 3vsinθ
(C) v sin θ
(D) v sin θ
2 3

Answer: (C)
Hmax u2 sin2 θ u2 sin2 θ
= =
2 2g 4g
2

∴ Applying 2
v= u2 + 2as along vertical direction
2 u2 sin2 θ
v=
y (4 sin θ)2 + 2( −g) ×
2

u sin θ
⇒ vy =
2

24. Two projectiles A and B are projected with same speed at

angles 30° and 60° to horizontal, then choose the wrong
statement? (Symbols have their usual meaning)
(A) RA = RB (B) HB = 3HA
(C) 3 TB = TA (D) All of these
Answer: (C)
TA 2usin30o 1
= =
TB g 3
2usin60o
g

⇒ TB = 3 TA

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25. The speed of boat is 5 km/h in still water. It crosses a river
of width 1 km along shortest possible path in 15 min. The
velocity of river water is
(A) 1 km/h (B) 3 km/h
(C) 4 km/h (D) 5 km/h
Answer: (B)

Shortest path is along line AB.

  
V= b,r Vb,g − Vr,g

  
⇒ V=
b,g Vb,r + Vr,g

If the boat crosses the river in 15 min

 
⇒ Vb,g = 4 km/hr ∴ Vr,g = 3 km/hr

26. Wind is blowing in the east direction at speed of 2 m/s

which causes the rain to fall at some angle with the
vertical. With what velocity should a cyclist drive so that
the rain appears vertical to him
(A) 2 m/s south (B) 2 m/s east
(C) 4 m/s west (D) 4 m/s south
Answer: (B)

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   
VR,G =VR + VW =2iˆ − VR ˆj


VG = VB ˆi

  
VR,B =VR,G − VB,G =(2iˆ − VR ˆj) − VB ˆi = (2 − VB )iˆ − VR ˆj

For rain to appear vertically downwards 2 − VB =

0

⇒ VB = 2 m/sec

27. Two projectiles A and B are thrown with the same speed
such that A makes angle q with the horizontal and B makes
angle q with the vertical, then
(A) Both must have same time of flight
(B) Both must achieve same maximum height
(C) A must have more horizontal range than B
(D) Both may have same time of flight
Answer: (D)
2u sin(90o − θ)
TA =
2u sin θ
g
TB =
g
= 2ucos θ
g

Both ‘A’ and ‘B’ will have same time of flight only if θ =45o

15
28. A flag is mounted on a car moving due North with velocity
of 20 km/hr. Strong winds are blowing due East with
velocity of 20 km/hr. The flag will point in direction
(A) East (B) North - East
(C) South - East (D) South – West
Answer: (D)
Both wind and car speed will force the flag to point
towards S–W.

29. If the position vector of a particle is 

r = 3t ˆi − 4ˆj + kˆ , the particle
will be –
(A) moving with uniform velocity
(B) stationary
(C) moving with uniform acceleration
(D) insufficient data
Answer: (A)

r= (3t)iˆ − 4ˆj + kˆ

 dr
V = 3iˆ
=
dt

30. A particle is executing a circular motion of radius R with a

uniform speed v. After completing half the circle, the change in
velocity and in speed will be respectively –

16
 (A) zero, zero (B) 2v, zero
(C) 2v, 2v (D) zero, 2v
Answer: (B)


Vf = Vjˆ


Vi = − Vjˆ

 
∴ Change in velocity = Vf − Vi = 2Vjˆ

Change in speed = 0

31. From a tower of height h a particle is projected horizontally

with velocity u and another thrown down with the same velocity
u. If the time taken by these be t1 and t2 what is true?
(A) t1 = t2 (B) t1 > t2 (C) t1 < t2 (D) t1 = 3t2
Answer: (B)
t1 > t2
It is obvious.

32. The horizontal range of a projectile is 4 3 times its

maximum height. Then the angle of projection is-
(A) 90º (B) 60º (C) 45º (D) 30º
Answer: (D)
17
 2u2 sin θ cos θ u2 sin2 θ
R = 4 3 Hmax ⇒ = 4 3×
g 2g

⇒ cot θ = 3 ⇒ θ =30o

33. The velocity at the maximum height of projectile is half of

its initial velocity u. Its range on horizontal plane is-
2u2 3u2 3u2 u2 u2
(A) (B) g
(C) 2g
(D)
3g 3g 3g

Answer: (C)
At Hmax, the projectile only has horizontal velocity.
∴=
u x ucos
= θ
u
2

1
⇒ cos θ = ⇒ θ =60o
2

u2 sin2θ u2 sin120o 3 u2
=R∴ =
g
=
g 2g

34. What is the average velocity of a projectile between the

instants is crosses half the maximum height? It is projected with
a speed u at an angle θ with the horizontal -
(A) u sin θ (B) u cos θ
(C) u tan θ (D) u
Answer: (B)

18
 Let’s assume that the stone took ‘T’ time between crossing
H
2
.
max

Avg. Velocity = Displacement

Time Taken
= (ucos θ)T
T
= ucos θ

( Displacement is only along horizontal during this

interval and is equal to (horizontal velocity × time))

35. A man on a moving cart, facing in the direction of motion,

throws a ball straight up with respect to himself -
(A) The ball will always return to him.
(B) The ball will never return to him.
(C) The ball will return to him if the cart moves with a
constant velocity.
(D) The ball will fall behind him if the cart moves with
some retardation.
Answer: (C)
If the cart is moving with constant velocity then the motion
of ball, thrown straight up with respect to man, will be
straight up and then down.
To a stationary observer on ground, the motion of the same
ball will be a projectile motion.
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36. Two men A and B, A standing on the extended floor nearby
a building and B is standing on the roof of the building. Both
throw a stone each towards each other. Then which of the
following will be correct.
(A) stone will hit A, but not B
(B) stone will hit B, but not A
(C) stone will not hit either of them, but will collide with
each other.
(D) none of these.
Answer: (C)

Both the stones will follow parabolic path and collide with
each other.

37. A man in a balloon, throws a stone downwards

with a speed of 5 m/s with respect to balloon . The
balloon is moving upwards with a constant
acceleration of 5 m/s2. Then velocity of the stone
relative to the man after 2 second is :
(A) 10 m/s (B) 30 m/s
(C) 15 m/s (D) 35 m/s
20
Answer: (D)
Relative velocity of stone = 5 m/s
relative acceleration of stone = 10 + 5 = 15 m/s2
∴ v = u + at = 5 + 15 × 2 = 35 m/s
∴ relative velocity after t = 2 second is 35 m/s

38. A particle is projected with a speed V V

H

from a point O making an angle of 30o with 30

o

the vertical. At the same instant, a second 60o

v

particle is thrown vertically upwards from a O A

point A. The two particle reach H, the highest

point on the parabolic path of particle
simultaneously. Then ratio Vv is
(A) 3 2 (B) 2 3

(C) 2
(D) 2
3
3

Answer: (C)
Equating the vertical velocities of both stones we have
V 3 V 2
V cos30o = ν ⇒ = ν ⇒ =
2 ν 3

39. A particle is projected with a speed 2 gh so that it clears two

walls of equal height h which are at a distance 2h from each

21
other. The time taken by the particle to pass between the two
walls is
(A) 2h
g
(B) 2h
g
(C) 2
h
g
(D)
h
2
g

Answer: (D)

Speed ‘v’ at height h can be found by conserving energy

i.e. 1
2
=mu2
1
2
mv 2 + mgh

2
⇒ u= v 2 + 2gh ⇒ 4gh
= v 2 + 2gh ⇒ v = 2gh

With this speed the range is 2h

2
∴ 2h = v sin2θ
2g
⇒ 2h =
(2gh)sin2θ
2g
⇒ θ =45o

2v sin θ 2 × 2gh × sin 45o h

∴=
Time =
g g
= 2
g

40. An aeroplane is flying horizontally with a velocity of 600

km/h and at a height of 1960m. When it is vertically above a

22
point A on the ground, a bomb is released from it. The bomb
strikes the ground at point B. The distance AB is
(A) 1200 m (B) 0.33 m
(C) 3.33 km (D) 33 km
Answer: (C)

= 2hg
Time of flight= 2 × 1960
= 20 sec
9.8

Range = vx × Time of flight = 500

3
× 20 = 10000
3
m

∴ AB = 3.33 km

41. If the ratio of horizontal range and the maximum height

reached is 4:1. Then, if the body is thrown horizontally, what
will be the projection angle?
(A) 45o (B) 30o (C) 60o (D) 90o
Answer: (A)
It is given that
R 4
=
H 1
⇒R= 4H
We know that,
R = 4 H cot θ
⇒θ =450
23
 R = 4 H cot θ ,
if θ = 45o
Then,
R 4
R = 4H ⇒ =
H 1

42. A particle of mass 1 kg is projected at an angle of 300 with

horizontal with velocity v = 40 m/s. The change in linear
momentum of the particle after time t = 1s will be (g = 10 m/s2)
(A) 7.5 kg-m/s (B) 15 kg-m/s (C) 10 kg-m/s (D) 20 kg-m/s

Answer: (C)
 
Change in linear momentum ∆P = F.∆t

Here F is weight i.e. mg

∴ | ∆=
P| (mg)( ∆=
t ) (1)(10 )(=
1) 10 kg-m/s

43. The velocity of projectile is increased by 2%. If other

factors remain unchanged then what will be the percentage
change in maximum height attained?
(A) 8% (B) 4% (C) 2% (D) 1%
Answer: (B)
Increase in the velocity of projectile u = 2%

24
 Maximum height attained by a projectile
u2 sin2 α
H=
2g
⇒H ∝ u2

Hence, percentage change in the maximum height = (2)2 =

4%.

44. A particle is projected with a velocity v such that its range

on the horizontal plane is twice the greatest height attained by it.
The range of the projectile is (where g is acceleration due to
gravity)
2
4g 2
(A) 4v (B) (C) v
(D)
2
4v
2
5g 5v g 5g

Answer: (A)
R = 2H⇒ cot θ = 21

sin θ =
2
, cos θ =
1
5 5

2v 2 sin θ cos θ 4v 2
∴ Range of projectile R = g
=
5g

45. A car is moving with a uniform speed on a level road.

Inside the car there is a balloon filled with helium and
attached to a piece of string tied to the floor. The string is
observed to be vertical. The car now takes a left turn

25
 maintaining the speed on the level road. The balloon in the
car will
(A) Continue to remain vertical
(B) Burst while taking the curve
(C) Be thrown to the right side
(D) Be thrown to the left side
Answer: (D)
Air outside the balloon is heavier so it will have more
tendency to move towards right and will keep the balloon
towards left side (Here in this question car is supposed to
be air tight).

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